FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between the EQTR Scholarship and the Internship Program?
The EQTR Scholarship recipients receive a $5,000 award and have the option of partaking in a twelve-month mentorship program that will take place during the school year the scholarship is awarded. Recipients who opt into the EQTR mentorship program will receive an additional $1,000 allocated to them in increments to meet their mentor in person on two separate occasions.
The EQTR Internship is a three-month paid internship ($18/hour) that comes with a mandatory mentorship program that will last the duration of the internship. The Fall and Spring interns will be working in a hybrid model during their time with SmartFlyer with three days in the office and two days remote. At the end of the internship program, interns will be evaluated on their work throughout the internship, and one top performer from each cohort will go on a trip at the end of their internship with the SmartFlyer HQ team.
Who should apply to the EQTR Scholarship program?
Future leaders and entrepreneurs 18 years of age and older in Hospitality Programs at Universities, Community Colleges, those currently working in the Hospitality Industry, and those with a travel-focused online presence with long-term goals in the luxury travel space.
What does an ideal candidate look like?
- Passionate about storytelling, marketing/communications, languages, problem-solving, and/or social media
- Enthusiastic about global travel, learning about other cultures, and luxury experiences
- Strong Communicator – Professional verbal and written communication skills
- Third and fourth-year students who are currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related field are preferred
- Graduation years accepted: May 2020, May 2021, May 2022, May 2023, May 2024
- Those with a demonstrable interest and enthusiasm for:
- the travel industry, languages, marketing, cultural immersion, operations, and/or hospitality
- Excellent critical thinking (whether qualitative or quantitative)
- Someone who is a self-starter, dependable, communicative, sociable, and has an eagerness to learn
How is the scholarship structured?
The EQTR scholarship comes with a twelve-month optional mentorship program designed for candidates to gain a comprehensive understanding of the competitive and rapidly-expanding luxury, hospitality, and travel industry. Scholarship recipients who opt to join the mentorship program will coordinate with their mentors to schedule meetings on a month-to-month basis. Scholarship recipients will receive $5,000 towards their tuition unless they opt-in for the mentorship program, if they take part in the mentorship program, they will be allocated $6,000, of which $5,000 is allocated towards the tuition and $1,000 can be used for transportation, housing, food, and entertainment for two separate in-person meetings with their mentor. It is mandatory to meet with your mentor in person two times within the twelve–month duration of the scholarship.
How will I receive the money?
Your scholarship of $5,000 will be allocated to your tuition directly where the financial aid office will manage it, therefore you will not have direct access to that fund. If you choose to opt into the optional mentorship program, a $1,000 stipend will be allocated to you upon request and approval. To access the stipend fund, you must submit this Budget Allocation Sheet prior to your first in-person meeting with your mentor to your institution’s internship/scholarship director. Upon approval from the director, you will have access to a portion of the $1,000 (no greater than $500 per request), that will go toward transportation, housing, food, and entertainment costs for your trip.
Is there an application deadline to apply for the 2023 start dates?
The EQTR Scholarship application is due by April 15, 2023. The EQTR Internship application is due on April 25, 2023,
What are the 2023 start dates and locations?
The optional mentorship program that accompanies the scholarship will commence in September for those who opt in. Mentor meetings will always be made available virtually with the option of in-person when available. The twelve-month mentorship program requires two in-person meetings between the mentee and mentor. The internship will also commence in September 2023 on a date TBD.
What can I expect during the mentorship part of the program?
Candidates will meet with their carefully paired mentors once a month to identify career goals, ask questions and explore opportunities for an actionable path forward. The mentor will organize breakout expert sessions with other professionals at the top of their field based on each candidate’s areas of interest.
Why do I submit a Budget Allocation sheet before my trip to see my mentor and an Actualized Spend Sheet after?
We want to ensure that Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to plan and execute a trip of their own. Planning a trip can be a complex but fulfilling process; at any trip’s very base, a budget plan is necessary. Secondly, the EQTR team wants to ensure that the money given for the two- in-person meetings with your mentor is used appropriately and thoughtfully. That being said, after completing the two in-person meetings, if you have money left over, you are entitled to do with that money what you will.
How many times can I apply for and receive the EQTR scholarship?
A recipient can receive the EQTR scholarship a maximum of two times.